Package for foodstuffs



May 20, 1969 PETERS ETAL 3,445,050

PACKAGE FOR FOODSTUFFS' Filed May 2, 1967 Sheet of s jm errfan ARTUR PETERS BERNHA'RD FRIEHE AM WA ATTGRNF May 20, 1969 A. PETERS ETAL- I 3,445,050

PACKAGE FOR FOODSTUFFS Filed lay a, 1967 "Sheet 3 or s .lm enton' ARTUR PETERS BERNHARD FR\EHE rrflRAIFIS May 20, 1969 A. PETERS ETAL 3,445,050

PACKAGE FOR FOOIDS'TUFFS Filed May 2, 1967 Sheet 3 o! :s

Inventor? ARTUR PETERS BERNHARD FRIEHE United States Patent 3,445,050 PACKAGE FOR FOODSTUFFS Artur Peters and Bernhard Friehe, Dissen, Germany, assignors to Unilever N.V., a corporation of the Netherlands Filed May 2, 1967, Ser. No. 635,451 Claims priority, application Germany, May 2, 1966,

288 Int. Cl. B6511 /56, 14, 5/40, 5/62, 5/58 1 US. Cl. 229-14 Claim ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to packages and refers more particularly to can-like packages for foodstuffs, such as margarine.

Can-like packages for margarine and other foodstuflfs now in use consist of drawn synthetic foil and are closed with a cover consisting of the same material. Packages of this type have various drawbacks, particularly for certain uses. A can-like package of this type always contains some air and there is usually a continuous air space above the merchandise filling the package. There is a balancing of pressure between the interior and the outer space particularly when there are variations of temperature and this can cause an exchange of air, since the cover which is clamped on does not provide an airtight closure. Furthermore, the material of the package, the quality of which must be suitable for the specific foodstuif and which must be resistant to its eliects, is not always the best one as far as outside influences are concerned. Cans made of synthetic foil are not particularly resistant, for example, against side pressure during transportation. Even a small change in shape of a can might cause the cover to jump ofif and then the contents will change their form and might even be spilled out of the can. It should be noted in this connection that packages of this type must be provided with a reinsertable cover, namely, a clamping cover, since pracitcally in all cases the contents are consumed gradually and after the removal of a part of the contents, the package is closed again and is usually placed with a closed cover in an icebox.

An object of the present invention is to eliminate the drawbacks of prior constructions.

Other objects will become apparent in the course of the following specification.

In the accomplishment of the objectives of the present invention it was found desirable to provide a package for foodstufls, for example margarine, consisting of two containers fitting one into the other and closed by separate covers or a single cover. This has the additional advantage that when the two containers are placed one into the other, an air space is formed between them which constitutes an insulating layer for the inner container; thus not only mechanical effects but also temperature changes are removed from the inner container and its contents. It is possible to provide and to maintain a uniform distance between the walls of the two containers through distancing pieces, for example, in the shape of projections pressed out of the walls of the containers. If the outer container is made of metal foil, an additional protection with respect to temperature is provided,

which may be important for certain fine foodstuifs. When the two containers which are placed one within the other are provided with a single cover, the cover should be of specific shape so that it forms a seal with the outer container and serves as a clamping cover for the inner container.

If the above stated requirements are not to severe, it will snfiice to close the package with two covers. Then the outer cover must be firmly connected with the package by airtight sealing, gluing, pressing or by other suitable means. The inner cover constitutes a clamping cover. When a single cover for two containers is used, this cover serves as a clamping cover for the inner container and as a sealing cover for the outer container. One or both covers can be provided with means facilitating their opening, for example, in the shape of a tongue.

The invention will appear more clearly from the following detailed description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, showing by way of example, preferred embodiments of the inventive idea.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a package having two containers with separate covers, the parts being shown separately.

FIGURE 1a is a diagrammatic section through a completed package on a smaller scale.

FIGURE 2 is similar to FIG. 1 but shows two containers having one common cover.

FIGURE 2a is a diagrammatic section through the completed package of FIG. 2 on a smaller scale.

FIGURE 3 is similar to FIGS. 1 and 2, but shows a single container provided with two covers.

FIGURE 3a is a diagrammatic section through the top of the completed package of FIG. 3 on a smaller scale.

FIGS. 1 and 1a show an outer container 1 having a cover 3 and an inner container 5 having a cover 7. The outer contanier 1 has an outwardly bent flange-like edge 2. The cover 3 having the shape of a smooth foil is soldered, glued or otherwise fixed upon the edge 2. The cover 3 is provided with tongues 4 which can be conveniently grasped by the user so as to remove the cover.

FIG. la shows diagrammatically the manner in which the two containers may fit one into the other. The inner container 5 has an outwardly bent upper edge 6. The clamping cover 7 must be placed upon the edge 6; the edge 8 of the cover 7 extends upwardly and it must be pressed clampingly against the outwardly extending edge 6 of the container 5. The cover 7 can be provided with an upwardly extending hand grip 9, so that it can be easily pulled out of the edge 6.

The container 5 can be provided with projections 10 which may be located upon the edges of the container below the edge 6. The projections 10 will lie against the inner surface of the container 1 so that the inner container 5 will be held firmly within the outer container and so that all the side walls of the container 5 will be located at the same distance from the side walls of the outer container 1. The bottom of the container 5 can be provided with recesses 11 which may extend completely around the bottom or be spaced from each other. These recesses 11 form projections which support the bottom of the container 5 at a distance from the bottom of the container 1, so that a space is provided between the bottoms of the two containers. The special shape of the cover 7 of the inner container with its upwardly extending edge 8 provides a space between the outer and inner containers, namely, between the two covers 7 and 3.

Thus there is to a certain extent an air cushion between the inner container and the outer container which prevents not only mechanical effects, but also variations in temperature from reaching the inner container. This air cushion between the two containers is closed by the sealing of the outer container 1 by means of the cover 3; there can be no flow of air to the outside and the mechanical strength of the outer covering is greatly increased by this enclosing air cushion.

In addition to the described advantages, this package has further advantages for specific purposes. Namely, when the outer container 1 consists of metal foil, there is additional protection against temperature variations. This type of package is particularly advantageous, for example, for frozen foodstuffs which are thus protected particularly during their transportation against variations in temperature which are unavoidable, for example, during repacking. Even if the contents are not subject to freezing temperature for a while, they will not be spoiled if located in the package of the present invention.

The package of the present invention wherein the outer container consists of metal foil, can be also used upon removal of the outer cover 3 to unfreeze the food located in the inner container 5 by pouring warm water into the space between the outer container 1 and the inner container 5. Then the foodstuffs located in the inner container 5 can be carefully cooked by removing the cover 3, filling the space between the two containers 1 and 5 with water and then placing the package upon a source of heat, whereby the water located in the space between the two containers is brought to a boil and thus heats the contents of the container 5, so that the container and its contents are heated to a temperature of at most 100 C. This type of package is also particularly suitable for prepared dishes which have to be reheated.

FIGS. 1 and 1a show that a uniform space is maintained on all sides between the containers 5 and 1 by the provision of projections formed in the container 5 which press against the inner surfaces of the walls of the container 1.

Obviously, the outer container 1 can be provided with corresponding inwardly pressed projections or the like, while the walls of the container 5 may be smooth or may be provided with projections extending in the opposite direction.

FIG. 2 shows a package consisting of two containers which fit one into the other and which are closed by a single common cover. The two containers can be constructed in the same manner as that shown in FIG. 1 and are therefore provided with the same numerals. It should be noted, however, that the upper edges of the two containers must have the same height. The cover 12 is of specific shape, namely, it has an upper edge portion 13 which continues as a horizontal flange 14. The cover 12 is clampingly mounted by the portion 13 upon the edge 6 of the container 5 and then lies with its flangelike portion 14 upon the corresponding upper part 2 of the edge of the outer container 1. The flange 14 of the cover 12 can be connected with the flange 2 of the container 1 by sealing, gluing or in other suitable ways. Then the two containers are interconnected in an airtight manner. The package shown in FIG. 2 has the same advantages as that shown in FIG. 1. In order to open the package the outwardly extending edge 2 of the container 1 is cut off along with the edge 14 of the cover 12, or a cut is performed with a knife which is guided between the two containers 1 and 5, thereby releasing the cover 12 from its attachment to the flange-like edge 2 of the container 1; then the cover only serves as a clamping cover upon the container 5. The container 5 can be then removed with the cover 12 clamped thereon and can be placed for the gradual removal of its contents in an icebox or the like. In order to remove a portion of the contents the cover 12 can be raised and then clamped on again.

FIG. 3 shows a construction wherein a container 15 is provided with an upwardly extending clamping edge 16 continuing in an outwardly extending flange-like edge 17. This single container is closed by two covers, namely, an inner clamping cover 18 and an outer cover 19. The inner clamping cover 18 is clamped on the outwardly extending edge 16 of the container and for that purpose it is provided with an upwardly bent edge strip 20. In order to facilitate removal, the cover 18 is provided with a central outwardly extending strip 21. The outer cover 19 has preferably the shape of a foil and is fixed upon the flangelike edge of the container 15 by soldering, gluing or in other suitable ways. The outer cover fixed in this manner provides an airtight closure for the package and also prevents the cover 18 from jumping out, for example, by pressure exerted upon both sides of the container 15; thus this package has a substantially higher mechanical firmness and, furthermore, it prevents an exchange of air be tween the interior of the package and the outer atmosphere. After removal of the outer cover 19, for example, by pulling or tearing at the tongue 4, the food contents can be consumed in the usual manner, namely the package can be used for gradual consumption in a household.

The packages made in accordance with the present invention also provide the possibility of packing contents which would oxidize when exposed to even small amounts of air, in a protective gas. This can be attained, for example, by removing air from the package prior to its sealing and by replacing the air by an inert gas.

It is apparent that the examples described above have been given solely by way of illustration and not by way of limitation and that they are capable of many variations and modifications within the scope of the present invention. All such variations and modifications are to be included within the scope of the present invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A package for foodstuffs, such as margarine, comprising two containers fitting one within the other of substantially the same length and a cover having clamping means for the inner container and another cover having sealing means for the outer container, said inner container having upwardly extending edge portions, the cover thereof having upwardly extending edges and an intermediate gripping handle and being pressed into clamping arrangement with the inner container, projections on the outer side Walls of said inner container near the top thereof and recesses on the bottom thereof to provide a space between the two containers, said outer container having outwardly bent flanges, said cover thereof being of a smooth foil material and sealed to said flanges.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,745,752 5/1956 Peters 99171 2,878,128 3/1959 Jorgenson 99-171 X 3,082,900 3/1963 Goodman 220l5 3,344,974 10/1967 Bostrom 22943 DAVID M. BOCKENEK, Primary Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 

